ETIOLOGIC IMPLICATIONS OF HEPATITIS-B AND HEPATITIS-C VIRUSES IN LIVER-LESIONS IN CHILDREN WITH HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES

32 children on the treatment for acute leukemia and aplastic anemia wi th hepatic dysfunction have been screened for hepatitis B and C viruse s. 16 children (50%) had toxic hepatitis, 14 (44%) viral hepatitis B, 2 (6%) viral hepatitis C. All the examinees have undergone blood trans fusions. Among the patients 3 children completed the treatment and wer e in remission, the rest were given cytostatic and/or immunosuppressiv e drugs. In those included in the study ALT activity was to be twice h igher than normal at repeat biochemical investigations. Markers of-HBV infection (HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, Anti-HBe, anti-HBc of IgM) and ant ibodies to HCV were detected using enzyme immunoassay with Roche diagn osticums. All positive results for antibodies to HCV were verified by the diagnosticum produced by ORTO RIBA III. HCV RNA was identified at polymerase chain reaction with Amplicor HCV Roche diagnosticum. HBV, H CV or HBV+HCV were found in 8 (25%), 9 (28%), 11 (34%) of patients, re spectively. Only in 4 children the results of the tests were negative. Thus, the majority of the examinees (87%) had hepatic lesion caused b y HBV, and/or HCV infection. Highly sensitive techniques contributed m uch to determination of hepatic lesion etiology in children with hemat ological malignancies which is important for choice of their treatment policy and rehabilitation.